Sales at department stores in Japan fell 3.2 percent on a same-store basis in May from a year earlier to 633.2 billion yen, down for the 14th consecutive month, the Japan Department Stores Association said Tuesday.
The association attributed the fall to continued weak demand from corporate customers as well as bad weather during the month, which saw a decline in sales of seasonal clothing. Sales of clothing were down 2.6 percent for the third straight month of decline. But all product categories saw sales slide below year-before levels, with sales of home appliances, furniture and other household items dropping 7.7 percent.
Food sales fell 2 percent, down for the second consecutive month.
The sales data cover 290 outlets run by 99 department store operators.